alpacas: 12/20/08

[AlpacaTalk] RESCUE ALPACA WITH SEIZURES... anyone ever dealt with this??

Hello all,

We did an emergency rescue of a small alpaca herd this week.

one of the girls is having multiple seizures..

here is what I know on the hisory..

She has had them since the people we rescued her from got her - They
have owned her for 2 years.....
They had called the farm they bought her from as soon as they first
noticed them and were told by the breeders " She does that
sometimes???"

Here is what it looks like.. All seems fine, then we find her on the
ground with her legs shaking and kicking and very rigid.. Her eyes
shake and move back and forth.. We get her into a cush position and
the
seizure seems to pass after a few minutes.. She gets up and is shaky
and stiff for a bit and then all is fine again...

The farm we rescued her from said it had only happened 5 or 6 times
over the past 2 years..

However it has occurred 4 times already in the past 2 days since the
move..

I am sure the stress of the move is perhaps aggrivating the condition
and I hope after she settles in a bit perhaps they will subside.. I
did
give her some banamine on the first time and during the move.

I have a vet visit scheduled for her , but he cannot get here until
next week + I know he has never seen this and is going to want some
input on if others have dealt with such or medications to help...

Things I know... No rye grass here.. so none of that.. Dectomax has
been given regularly + add in the time frame of seizing for the past
2+
years seems to rule out meningal worm...

Just hoping some of you may have ever dealt with this and may know of
something that might help her...
She is 7 years old and has been bred, about 3 1/2 months into the
pregnancy....

It honestly reminds me of the type of seizures my friend with epilepsy
has...

Any info would be appreciated..
She is obviously in quarantine from my herd as all rescues have to be
until all is checked out.. However she is in the comfort of 2 other
females from the same rescue and her cria from last year...
None of the others are exhibiting any odd behaviors...

Thanks for any help you guys might have..

Vida Palmer
Kuska Paku Farm
Moss Point, Ms

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Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

Once we changed our feed from the old pellet we used to buy, our
alpacas wouldn't touch the other stuff any more either! That's why we
went with the alfalfa pellets. They really like them. Since we only
feed 1 cup, it's not as though they're getting a diet of 100% alfalfa
which I think everyone agrees is not good for them... And it isn't a
by-product. We absolutely didn't want a questionable quality product
which may be variable from batch to batch. We also looked at Timothy
hay pellets as the base ingredient, but they weren't as available to
our mill as the alfalfa pellets were.

Here's that main think with our feed. It's green. Our old feed was grey
or cardboard colored. It didn't smell great. Our new pellets (which
we've fed since Oct. 2006) do smell good, they smell like grass because
that's what it is.

Heather

On Dec 20, 2008, at 10:31 AM, Wendy Edwards wrote:

> hi - my alpacas don't like their pellets, they leave them in the
> bottom of the feed dish - that is what started me looking for an
> alternative to the feed we get locally.
>
> I agree about the starches and sugars, altho to quote Dr. Robert
> VanSaun, "As a start i would suggest you consider using fiber
> byproducts as the primary ingredients rather than the traditional
> corn, oats, or barley grains. Fibre byproducts include ingredients
> like beet pulp, soyhullls, wheat bran or middlings, citrus pulp or
> rice bran among others"
>
> He had a lot of questions that i am just now beginning to answer -
> this is an interesting process, and i think at the very least i will
> know a lot more about alpaca nutritional needs, and we will have a
> better feed available at the local feed mill.
>
> I contacted pac-a-nutrition - love the look of their farm and their
> alpacas - farm land like that makes me drool - of course they are many
> miles too far from me to even consider shipping but i have asked some
> questions regarding nutrition and i hope they get back to me.
>
> all the best to everyone - i am off to christmas shop, finally. We
> have so much snow here that i haven't been able to get off the farm
> for the last week.
>
> Wendy
> DreamWeaver Alpacas
> Port Alberni, BC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

hi - my alpacas don't like their pellets, they leave them in the bottom of the feed dish - that is what started me looking for an alternative to the feed we get locally.

I agree about the starches and sugars, altho to quote Dr. Robert VanSaun, "As a start i would suggest you consider using fiber byproducts as the primary ingredients rather than the traditional corn, oats, or barley grains. Fibre byproducts include ingredients like beet pulp, soyhullls, wheat bran or middlings, citrus pulp or rice bran among others"

He had a lot of questions that i am just now beginning to answer - this is an interesting process, and i think at the very least i will know a lot more about alpaca nutritional needs, and we will have a better feed available at the local feed mill.

I contacted pac-a-nutrition - love the look of their farm and their alpacas - farm land like that makes me drool - of course they are many miles too far from me to even consider shipping but i have asked some questions regarding nutrition and i hope they get back to me.

all the best to everyone - i am off to christmas shop, finally. We have so much snow here that i haven't been able to get off the farm for the last week.

Wendy
DreamWeaver Alpacas
Port Alberni, BC
----- Original Message -----
From: Heather Zeleny
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

There are definite reasons for feeding pellets. The alpacas like them!
It's a good way to get the alpacas into the stalls. Our feed is
concentrated, so we feed only 1 cup to pregnant and nursing dams, so
it's less than 1 cup of alfalfa pellets per girl. The alfalfa at this
rate of feeding is not in the least harmful to them, and does provide
necessary calories that pregnant dams need, in addition to calcium.

Alfalfa pellets aren't expensive, and it does prevent leaving alfalfa
stems strewn all over the feeding area. I see no advantage of alfalfa
hay over pellets when it comes down to it, and the pellets can be an
advantage as the alpacas do very much enjoy their pellets and you can
then top-dress as necessary.

I wold avoid sugars and starches in my alpacas' diets, though, as I
said previously. A perforated stomach ulcer is a terrible thing for an
alpaca to die from, and totally unnecessary and avoidable.

Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
http://www.whitelotusalpacas.com
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlpacaTalk/join

On Dec 20, 2008, at 6:45 AM, bluebirdhills@voyager.net wrote:
> Hi Janice,
>
> Custom Milling has an excellent mineral, reasonable
> priced that the alpacas love. You can certainly manage your animals
> just fine with good pasture, good hay, and minerals. They don't
> really need pellets at all as long as the vitamins and especially
> minerals
> are available to them. I think I would avoid the alfalfa pellets and
> beet
> pulp and reroute myself and my money to just purchasing excellent
> quality
> hay instead For those that might need an extra nutritional boost, you
> could add the straight alfalfa hay, but you might want to chop it
> first
> for their prehensile lips seem to be able to grab only the leaves
> (candy
> to them).
>
> Laurel
>
> Bluebird Hills Farm
> Springfield, Ohio
> 937-206-3936

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Re: [AlpacaTalk] FEEd- A great Alpaca feed

Do you have a label listing GA and ingredients? What rate do you feed
it? We can ship our feed, too, however shipping can be over twice the
cost of the feed itself, especially over more than one zone.

Heather

On Dec 20, 2008, at 7:42 AM, Michael A. Morack wrote:

> Hello...we would strongly recommend the Pac-a-Nutrition made by
> Knoblocks. We have found it an excellent choice to maintain healthy
> Alpacas, great fleece, and priced competitely. Minimum order is 2,000
> pounds (1 ton), 50-40ty pound bags, so sharing a delivery might make
> sense for some. It is the only feed the Knoblocks make, are on hand
> for the entire run gaurenteeing quality and they are Alpaca owners to
> boot. They can provide a quote for your final cost with shipping when
> you call and the content specifications for comparison to other feeds.
> The contents are completely digestible and usable by the Alpaca.
>
> Having tried Evans and a number of other custom mixes, this
> has been superior to all, hands down. To obtain contact information,
> simply Google Pac-a-Nutrition. We found there is no waste when this
> feed is utilized. We do not market this product but use it
> exclusively. An outstanding high quality, cost competitive product.
> Regards, Michael
> Michael and Margery A. Morack
> Greenbriar Farm
> Waukesha, WI 53189-7965
> 262.970.9633
> MAM2@wi.rr.com
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

There are definite reasons for feeding pellets. The alpacas like them!
It's a good way to get the alpacas into the stalls. Our feed is
concentrated, so we feed only 1 cup to pregnant and nursing dams, so
it's less than 1 cup of alfalfa pellets per girl. The alfalfa at this
rate of feeding is not in the least harmful to them, and does provide
necessary calories that pregnant dams need, in addition to calcium.

Alfalfa pellets aren't expensive, and it does prevent leaving alfalfa
stems strewn all over the feeding area. I see no advantage of alfalfa
hay over pellets when it comes down to it, and the pellets can be an
advantage as the alpacas do very much enjoy their pellets and you can
then top-dress as necessary.

I wold avoid sugars and starches in my alpacas' diets, though, as I
said previously. A perforated stomach ulcer is a terrible thing for an
alpaca to die from, and totally unnecessary and avoidable.

Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
http://www.whitelotusalpacas.com
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AlpacaTalk/join

On Dec 20, 2008, at 6:45 AM, bluebirdhills@voyager.net wrote:
> Hi Janice,
>
> Custom Milling has an excellent mineral, reasonable
> priced that the alpacas love. You can certainly manage your animals
> just fine with good pasture, good hay, and minerals. They don't
> really need pellets at all as long as the vitamins and especially
> minerals
> are available to them. I think I would avoid the alfalfa pellets and
> beet
> pulp and reroute myself and my money to just purchasing excellent
> quality
> hay instead For those that might need an extra nutritional boost, you
> could add the straight alfalfa hay, but you might want to chop it
> first
> for their prehensile lips seem to be able to grab only the leaves
> (candy
> to them).
>
> Laurel
>
> Bluebird Hills Farm
> Springfield, Ohio
> 937-206-3936

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

__._,_.___

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[AlpacaTalk] FEEd- A great Alpaca feed

Hello...we would strongly recommend the Pac-a-Nutrition made by
Knoblocks. We have found it an excellent choice to maintain healthy
Alpacas, great fleece, and priced competitely. Minimum order is 2,000
pounds (1 ton), 50-40ty pound bags, so sharing a delivery might make
sense for some. It is the only feed the Knoblocks make, are on hand
for the entire run gaurenteeing quality and they are Alpaca owners to
boot. They can provide a quote for your final cost with shipping when
you call and the content specifications for comparison to other feeds.
The contents are completely digestible and usable by the Alpaca.

Having tried Evans and a number of other custom mixes, this
has been superior to all, hands down. To obtain contact information,
simply Google Pac-a-Nutrition. We found there is no waste when this
feed is utilized. We do not market this product but use it
exclusively. An outstanding high quality, cost competitive product.
Regards, Michael
Michael and Margery A. Morack
Greenbriar Farm
Waukesha, WI 53189-7965
262.970.9633
MAM2@wi.rr.com

__._,_.___

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[AlpacaTalk] pelleted feed

hi Janice - no i didn't think you were complaining - that 's the problem with email, there is no "tone of voice" included and it's easy to have misunderstandings

what i meant was we've discussed it but not enough for me to get a grip on what i needed to know for my alpacas. I think it was Heather who mentioned that geographic location is important adnd that 's a big one for me. Most of the other alpaca farmers who contribute to this listserve are in the US, and here i am on Vancouver Island, so sometimes i have to adjust what i'm reading, to my geographic location and that's when i bog down a little.

I have contacted Dr. Robert VanSaun and i think he will be very helpful - he is willing to talk to the nutritionist at the local feed mill here. I've been looking for a copy of Dr. Norm Evans' Alpaca Field Manual but have found it to be "sold out" at each website i've contacted. It doesn't appear to be available through Amazon at all.

At least one other alpaca farmer on the island is interested in a custom feed and i may hear from others yet.

I really appreciate all of your input Janice, and it sounds as if things are going a bit better for you now - my heart really goes out to you handling all of your many responsibilities on your own. I hope you and your family have a peaceful and happy holiday season.
Merry Christmas
Wendy
DreamWeaver Alpacas
BC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

Hi Janice,

Custom Milling has an excellent mineral, reasonable
priced that the alpacas love. You can certainly manage your animals
just fine with good pasture, good hay, and minerals. They don't
really need pellets at all as long as the vitamins and especially minerals
are available to them. I think I would avoid the alfalfa pellets and beet
pulp and reroute myself and my money to just purchasing excellent quality
hay instead For those that might need an extra nutritional boost, you
could add the straight alfalfa hay, but you might want to chop it first
for their prehensile lips seem to be able to grab only the leaves (candy
to them).

Laurel

Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936

>
<<looking forward to more discussion - yes Janice, i know we talked

> about feed last year, but i'm slow to learn i guess - there are
many
> differing opinions on feed, but i have to find the right
mix for my
> animals. Most things are not available in our small
valley but i don't
> mind making the drive or ordering online if
i feel i'm getting the right
> stuff.>>
>
>
> Oh Wendy I hope you didn't think I was *complaining*
about the feed
> discussion.....far from it. I too am still
trying to get it figured out
> and do it right. I learn so much
from everyone here and what they are
> doing.....and I keep
trying to find what will work for my dear pacas and
> keep them
healthy as possible (as I have no vet backup - in fact I had a
>
sick one last week that I was sure would be dead by morning. He
>
wouldn't eat, had "that look" in his eyes and was having trouble
getting
> up and down. It was evening and we had a cmas event to
go to. I didn't
> want to go I was so worried about my boy....my
personality plus gelding.
> But I knew there was nothing I could
do. I worried all evening and
> couldn't wait to get home, but
dreaded it at the same time. Glory be he
> was looking much
better by the time I got home. And was fine and eating
> again by
morning. I have lost 2 very quickly with the same
>
symptoms.....didn't eat a meal, had "that look" and were dead by

> morning. I cannot tell you the relief, I was already stressing
about
> how to bury him and grieving mightily and feeling so very
helpless. Not
> having a vet sucks big time. So indeed I am very
very interested in the
> absolute best possible way to feed
them). So I right there with you
> learning more with every
discussion :-). I was only commenting that
> Heather has talked
about this before - this not feeding grain - and I
> tried but
failed. But wanting to try again.
>
> So what I am
thinking now is to look for alfalfa/hay pellets and by
> adding
the beet pulp I can still get them to eat their minerals. Now I
>
need to find out about adding vitamins? I am also wondering about
> whether I need to do something to replenish my Allie's intestinal
flora
> since she had that round of antibiotics this summer after
her eye got
> scratched out......whether - because I have read
that they get the
> natural bacteria they need from grazing on
grass; and how - in case that
> is not enough after a round of
antibiotics????
>
> As for the beet pulp, you say you
stopped using after the discussion on
> this list. Yet I read
just the opposite!? I *started* giving them beet
> pulp after our
discussion here a few months ago. So maybe we need to
> have that
discussion again? I am happy because it is getting them to
> eat
their minerals, but I don't want to do harm in the meantime.
>

> Warmly, Janice
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Saturday, December 20, 2008

[AlpacaTalk] RESCUE ALPACA WITH SEIZURES... anyone ever dealt with this??

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] FEEd- A great Alpaca feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] FEEd- A great Alpaca feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] pelleted feed

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: feed

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